why was the repentant thief on the cross admitted to "paradise" without being baptised?

Answer 1

The thief was admitted to paradise (likely purgatory, as explained by Fr. K) because he repented from his sins at the hour of death. Baptism was not an option.

However, as Jeanmarie explains, baptism is required by Jesus for salvation whenever there IS an option. Those who reject baptism, despite the plain, repeated scriptural evidence, show that they are not part of full gospel Christianity. Rather they take a couple of misinterpreted verses from St. Paul and a lot of denominational doctrine over Jesus' teachings.

God's friends accept ALL of Jesus' teachings on salvation. These include baptism (Mark 16:16; John 3:5), believing Christ and putting faith in him (e.g., Luke 7:50, 8:12), self-renunciation (e.g., Matt 5:3, 10), repentance (Matt 3:2; 4:17; 18:8-9; Mark 9:42-48), obedience to God, doing what is right and just (e.g., Luke 10:25-28; John 12:50), adopting the humility of a child (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14), eating the bread of life (John 6:51, 53-54), and endurance to the end (Matt 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-18).

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

Yeah...how about that!
I guess what matters is belief or faith.
Christ isn't going to demand something of someone that they can in no way do. This brother couldn't exactly climb down, get immersed, then climb back on the cross.
We, however have the opportunity for baptism.
I personally know Baptists that sprinkled men in the hospital beds at their request. They couldn't get out of bed.
I would point out, that if you carefully examine the progression in the man's conversation, you will see at what points God the Father (or Spirit) enlightened him to believe in Jesus.
Fascinating account. Great sermon material.

Answer 3

Baptism does not save and is not necessary to be saved. It is a symbolic public testimony of the new birth. Baptism does not wash away sins either. God removes our sins when we become His children through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and we become partakers of the nature of God. Water baptisms signifies the death and burial of the old man and resurrection of the new man in Christ, and we are declaring publicly that we are new creations in Christ Jesus.
If an individual is not saved before baptism then baptism is useless because it is supposed to be a dry saint coming out a wet saint, not a dry sinner coming out a wet sinner.

Answer 4

Baptism is not required for redemption from our sins. Some churches require the ritual of baptism to be accomplished prior to admission into their sect or cult.
Biblical baptism is an outward, public expression of the internal "heart change" that has occurred.
Repentance and public confession of ones belief that Jesus is Lord is all that is required for admission to "paradise". The one thief met those requirements.

Answer 5

He was still under the law of moses. Jesus had not risen from the dead yet-that's when we were under grace.
We are baptized into Christ's death-Romans 6.

1-Mark 16:15,16 - "He Who Believes and Is Baptized Will Be Saved."
Man says; He who believes is saved and may then be baptized.
bible says; "He Who Believes and Is Baptized Will Be Saved

2-Acts 2:38 - "Repent and Be Baptized for Remission of Sins"
Are sins forgiven (remitted) before baptism or as a result of it? Note that the purpose of baptism is clearly stated: it is for remission of sins.Consider the people to whom Peter was speaking.

If "for" means "because they already had remission," then Peter must have been talking to saved people. Was he?

He had just convicted them of the sin of killing Jesus (v36), and they were pricked in heart and asked what to do (v37). They did not already have remission, but stood in need of receiving it.

Peter then told them to "repent." If they already had remission, why did they need to repent? The command to repent proves these people were not already saved, but were still sinners needing to receive remission.

3-Acts 22:16 - Be Baptized and Wash away Your Sins

4-1 Peter 3:21 - Baptism saves us.
5-Galatians 3:27 - We are baptized into Christ.
6-Romans 6:3 - We are baptized into Jesus' death.
†

Answer 6

Because of the Baptism of desire. And because Jesus said so. That should be enough.

Please note that "paradise" is not heaven.

Luke 23:43 - the good thief, although not baptized, shows that there is also a baptism by desire, as Jesus says to him that he will be in paradise. It should also be noted that when Jesus uses the word "paradise," He did not mean heaven. Paradise, from the Hebrew "sheol" meant the realm of the righteous dead. This was the place of the dead who were destined for heaven, but who were captive until the Lord's resurrection. Hence, the good thief was destined for heaven because of his desire to be with Jesus.

Answer 7

Because baptism came after Jesus died on the cross. Starting with John the Baptist. Look to Acts 2:38 for the information given as the plan of salvation.

Answer 8

Because God said so. If we have a change to get baptized, we should do it after we give our lives to Christ, but the baptism is not a requirement for salvation.

Answer 9

Luke 23:42-44 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[a]"

43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Jesus' Death
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

Answer 10

He lived and died a Jew. Jews did not have to be baptized under the Law of Moses. Jesus also lived and died a Jew. Neither of them, in their lives on earth, ever saw a Christian. Until after Jesus died and shed His blood, there was no forgiveness, no church/kingdom/body of His on the earth.